Tech & Gadgets · Head-to-head
Elgato Game Capture HD60 X vs Elgato Game Capture 4K X
Which should you buy? Here's the honest call, pulled from our full The Best Video Capture Cards: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
For the overwhelming majority of streamers, the HD60 X captures everything you realistically broadcast, passes through high-refresh gameplay untouched, and costs far less than the flagships. Step up to the 4K X only if you genuinely record in 4K or run a high-refresh 4K/PS5 Pro setup that demands HDMI 2.1 passthrough.
Elgato Game Capture HD60 X
Buy itThe value default: 1080p60 HDR capture plus high-refresh passthrough that covers what most streamers actually do.
- Captures 1080p60 with HDR10, which is plenty for Twitch and YouTube, and independent testing rates the image quality highly for the class
- Passthrough handles 4K60 HDR and up to 1440p120 / 1080p240, so it does not cap your monitor while you play
- Simple external USB-C setup and the most polished, widely supported software here
- Tops out at 4K30 for actual capture, so it is not the box for recording high-frame-rate 4K
- No HDMI 2.1, so it cannot pass through 4K120
Elgato Game Capture 4K X
Buy itThe future-proof external pick, with true HDMI 2.1 4K144 passthrough and up to 4K60 HDR capture.
- HDMI 2.1 lets it pass through up to 4K144 with VRR, so a PS5 Pro or high-refresh 4K monitor plays uncapped while you capture
- Captures up to 4K60 HDR10 (and up to 1080p240), giving you real headroom for recording, not just streaming
- External USB-C box that is genuinely plug-and-play and works across OBS, Windows and Mac
- Needs a fast 10Gbps USB-C port and a reasonably capable PC to hit its top modes
- Overkill and pricey if you only ever stream 1080p
Side by side
| Elgato Game Capture HD60 X | Elgato Game Capture 4K X | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | The mainstream streamer capturing 1080p or 1440p who wants the best balance of quality, ease and price. | Creators on current-gen consoles or high-refresh 4K setups who want passthrough that never bottlenecks their gameplay. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$$$ · flagship |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Elgato Game Capture HD60 X - The value default: 1080p60 HDR capture plus high-refresh passthrough that covers what most streamers actually do. Choose the Elgato Game Capture 4K X instead if creators on current-gen consoles or high-refresh 4K setups who want passthrough that never bottlenecks their gameplay.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Video Capture Cards: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).